In the print-on-demand world two big dogs stand out: CustomCat and Printful. I’ve taken a deep dive to help you make an informed decision. CustomCat has over 20 years of experience and Printful has delivered 78 million items in 10 years.
As a business owner I know how important it is to partner with the right print-on-demand service. That’s why I’ve compared CustomCat and Printful across features, products, delivery, integrations, pricing and customer support. I’ve also looked at user reviews to get a full picture of each company.
Quick Verdict
Choosing between CustomCat and Printful is hard. I’ve compared both and found some key differences to help you decide.
CustomCat is great for new sellers targeting US market. Their fast production and lower pricing can help you make more money when you start out. If you’re focused on domestic sales and want to maximize margins, CustomCat might be the way to go.
Printful is for a global audience. Their worldwide shipping and large product catalog makes them perfect for international customers. Whether you’re new to print-on-demand or an experienced seller, Printful’s many integrations can help you grow.
Printful vs CustomCat: Pros and Cons
CustomCat and Printful are both high quality print-on-demand services but each has its pros and cons. I’ve found both excel at DTG and embroidery and deliver great products to customers worldwide. Both have user friendly interfaces and resources for beginners.
CustomCat stands out with competitive pricing and fast production times. But has a smaller product range than Printful. Printful has a wider range of products to customize but at a higher price point. And slower shipping than CustomCat.
| Feature | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Lower | Higher |
| Product Range | Limited | Extensive |
| Production Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Shipping | Quicker | Can be delayed |
1. Main Offerings
CustomCat and Printful are print-on-demand services for businesses and individuals. Printful has global warehousing and fulfillment for non-POD merchants. They have branding options and built-in design tools.
CustomCat has quick turnaround times and marketing tools. These include split testing, customer data capture and upselling functions.
2. Product Quality and Options
Printful has 343 products, CustomCat has 300. Both have apparel, accessories and home goods. Printful has unique products like phone cases and notebooks.
CustomCat’s Products
CustomCat has a wide range of customizable products. Their catalog includes apparel items like t-shirts, hoodies and tank tops. They also have accessories like phone cases, mugs and tote bags.
CustomCat’s biggest plus is their many color options for most products. This gives more design flexibility and personalization.
I found that CustomCat updates their product line often, new products are added to keep up with market trends.
Printful’s Products
Printful has over 300 customizable products. They have clothing, accessories and home decor items.
I noticed Printful’s eco-friendly options, organic cotton apparel and recycled polyester products. This is good for environmentally conscious consumers and businesses.
Printful also has all-over print items like dresses and backpacks, more design possibilities.
Quality Comparison
Both CustomCat and Printful have high quality standards but there are some differences:
CustomCat:
- Fast production times
- Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing for most apparel
- Competitive pricing for bulk orders
Printful:
- Premium materials and printing techniques
- Product mockups and design tools
- Consistent quality across products
I found that Printful gets higher marks for print quality and color accuracy. But CustomCat’s fast turnaround times is good for time sensitive orders.
Both have quality control but Printful’s process seems more thorough, less defects.
3. Printing Technologies and Techniques
CustomCat and Printful have different printing technologies to produce custom products. Each has their own methods that affect quality, durability and production time.
CustomCat’s Printing Techniques
CustomCat uses direct-to-garment (DTG) printing for most apparel. This allows for full color design on light and dark fabrics. I found their DTG prints to be soft and detailed.
For hard goods like mugs and phone cases, CustomCat uses dye-sublimation. This process infuses the ink into the material, long lasting and fade resistant prints.
CustomCat also has embroidery for hats and some garments. Their embroidery is durable and premium looking.
Printful’s Printing Techniques
Printful has more printing technologies. Like CustomCat they use DTG for most apparel items. I found their DTG prints to be similar in quality and softness.
For all-over prints on shirts and leggings, Printful uses cut & sew technology. This allows edge-to-edge designs with no print area limitations.
Printful’s embroidery service covers more products than CustomCat’s. They also have screen printing for bulk orders which can be more cost effective for large quantities.
For accessories and hard goods, Printful uses a combination of techniques like dye-sublimation, UV printing and heat transfer. This allows them to print on many products.
3. Shipping
CustomCat ships faster in the US, 3 days. Printful is 5-10 days for US orders.
For international shipping:
- CustomCat: 1-28 days
- Printful: 1-20 days
Printful’s global facilities gives them an advantage for international orders.
4. Platform Compatibility
Printful connects with over 20 e-commerce platforms and marketplaces. CustomCat integrates with 4 partners: Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce.
Both have API integrations for print-on-demand apps and vendors like Teeinblue Product Personalizer.
CustomCat and Printful have integrations with various e-commerce platforms to streamline the print-on-demand process. These integrations connect storefronts to fulfillment services.
CustomCat’s E-commerce Integrations
CustomCat integrates with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Etsy. I found their Shopify integration to be very robust, auto order syncing and product import.
For WooCommerce users, CustomCat has a plugin that simplifies adding products to WordPress based stores. The Etsy integration allows direct order fulfillment for handmade and vintage marketplaces.
CustomCat also has an API for custom integrations which I like for its flexibility. This allows developers to create custom solutions for specific e-commerce setup.
Printful’s E-commerce Integrations
Printful has more integrations than CustomCat. They support major platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Etsy and also Squarespace, BigCommerce and Wix.
I found that Printful’s Shopify app has more advanced features like variant mapping and product personalization. Their WooCommerce plugin is user friendly and has automatic tax calculation.
Printful’s API is well documented and has webhooks which makes it easier for developers to create custom integrations. They also have integrations with marketplaces like Amazon and eBay which means more sales channels.
5. Pricing
Both have free plans. Paid options:
- CustomCat Pro: $25 or $30 monthly for 20-40% off wholesale prices
- Printful Growth: $24.99 monthly
CustomCat’s product pricing is lower. Men’s t-shirts:
- CustomCat: $5.50-$29.95 (average $13-$17)
- Printful: $6.95-$29.95 (average $16-$29)
Printful has a 20% sample order discount.
6. Help and Support
Both have blogs, FAQs and clear policies.
CustomCat has phone support Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6:30 pm EST. They also have email and contact forms.
Printful has 24/7 email or live chat support in 6 languages with 2 hour response time.
Both CustomCat and Printful have customer support options but their approach and satisfaction level is different. I’ll compare each company’s customer service.
CustomCat’s Customer Support
CustomCat has customer support via email and phone. Their response time varies, some customers get quick resolution while others experience delay.
I found that CustomCat’s support team is knowledgeable about their products and services. They often provide solution to common printing and fulfillment issues.
One downside is no live chat support which some users prefer for quick questions. CustomCat’s phone support is only available on weekdays which can be inconvenient for some customers.
Printful’s Customer Service
Printful has 24/7 customer support via email, live chat and phone. This is a big plus for many users especially those in different time zones.
I found that Printful’s support team is well trained and can handle various types of questions. They are particularly good in handling technical issues related to their integration with e-commerce platforms.
Printful also has an extensive knowledge base and FAQ section on their website. This self service option allows customers to find answers without contacting support directly.
Customer satisfaction with Printful’s support is high, many users praise their response and problem solving skills.
7. User Reviews
Shopify App Store (Feb 2024):
- Printful: 4.8 stars (5,243 reviews)
- CustomCat: 4.2 stars (553 reviews)
Users love Printful for product quality, catalog and user interface.
Here’s a quick comparison of key features:
| Feature | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Market focus | US domestic | Global |
| Turnaround time | Faster | Standard |
| Base costs | Lower | Higher |
| Product range | Limited | Extensive |
| Integrations | Basic | Diverse |
Choose your target market, desired margins and growth plans. Both have their strengths so pick the one that fits your business.
Conclusion
After comparing CustomCat and Printful, I think both have their own advantages for print-on-demand businesses. CustomCat’s lower price and faster production time is good for budget conscious entrepreneurs. Their wide product range is impressive.
Printful’s better print quality and brand reputation is good for those who want premium products. Their integrations and user friendly interface is hard to beat.
Ultimately it depends on individual business needs. CustomCat is good for those who want to maximize profits and fast turnaround. Printful is good for those who want quality and seamless ecommerce integration.
I recommend to weigh the pros and cons of each platform. Consider your target market, product types and long term business goals. You might even test both services to see which one works better for you.
